We saw the creepy, terrible aliens of the Horde yesterday; so why not some more aliens today? This batch is more argumentative, I think: from 1992, Avengers West Coast #82, "Shi'ar Hatred!" Written by Roy and Dann Thomas, pencils by David Ross, inks by Tim Dzon.
I hadn't been reading West Coast Avengers at the time, but this was the third straight chapter of "Operation: Galactic Storm." There's a title that hasn't aged well. The crossover ran nineteen issues, and while I know I picked up the conclusion in Avengers, but I only read the tie-ins that were in books I was already reading, Captain America and Quasar. (I know one of the latter's featured one of Carol Danver's last appearances as Binary, maybe we'll check that out later.) This chapter, the Kree Starforce has been captured, but tensions are still high between the Shi'ar and the Avengers. Lilandra usually is more reasonable, but her advisor Araki seems to be pushing her towards a confrontation. The Imperial Guard is ordered to take the team to quarters, but Thor--rookie Eric Masterson--lashes out, leading to this issue's fight scene.
Living Lightning takes a shot at Lilandra, but gets Araki instead: it was only to stun, but reveals him to be a Skrull. Lilandra releases Ultimus (formerly known as the Demon Druid) to take word of the Skrulls stirring things up back to the Kree; but they may have a bigger problem: the Nega Bomb has disappeared, although Quasar may know where it's gone...
I loved, LOVED this crossover as a kid. Unfortunately living as a kid in Germany at the time, I didn't have access to other chapters, like Wonder Man and Quasar, only the main titles. I still enjoyed the story though, as there was so much going on. Cap left behind, Iron Man convincing a small contingent of Avengers to kill, thus dividing the Avengers, Hakweye's continued rivalry w/ US Agent going to the point that he cheats to not be stuck on Earth, etc.
ReplyDeleteOh and the Eric Masterson Thor snapping and beating the ever lovin' shit out of Gladiator to the point that Wonder Man has to step in and keep him from killing him.
Great stuff.
And then there's the 2-part What If? where everything foes wrong to look forward to as well.